Grommet with tie-strap tower

ABSTRACT

A grommet for protecting a tube, the grommet including a first port, a second port, and a flexible bellows disposed therebetween. The first port defines a central axis and includes: a conduit leading to the bellows and a first strap tower defining at least one first strap aperture. A tube extends out of the conduit. A first strap is wrapped around the tube and extends through the at least one first strap aperture to securing the tube to the first strap tower.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application relates to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/427,040 filed on Feb. 7, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to a grommet for shielding tubes and electrical cables.

BACKGROUND

A grommet is often used to shield tubes and electric cables passing from a body of a vehicle to a door of a vehicle. One end of the grommet attaches to the body. The opposite end attaches to the door. The grommet includes a flexible bellows that contracts or expands when the door moves toward the body and expands or contracts (i.e., does the opposite) when the door moves away from the body. A tube or wire passes through the grommet, thus enabling a fluid or electrical connection between the body and the door.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a grommet for protecting a tube, the grommet including a first port, a second port, and a flexible bellows disposed therebetween. The first port defines a central axis and includes: a conduit leading to the bellows and a first strap tower defining at least one first strap aperture. A tube extends out of the conduit. A first strap is wrapped around the tube and extends through the at least one first strap aperture to securing the tube to the first strap tower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to embodiments shown in the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale and related elements may be omitted, or in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated, so as to emphasize and clearly illustrate the novel features described herein. In addition, system components can be variously arranged, as known in the art. Further, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a grommet.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the grommet.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the grommet taken along 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the grommet.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the grommet taken along 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the grommet.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the grommet.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the grommet.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the grommet connected with a vehicle body and a vehicle door.

FIG. 10 is a partial side elevational view of the grommet connected with the vehicle door.

FIG. 11 is a schematic top plan view of a tube secured to a tower strap of the grommet.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a grommet.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the grommet of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the grommet taken along 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a side plan view of a further embodiment of a grommet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

While the invention may be embodied in various forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will hereinafter be described, some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

In this application, the use of the disjunctive is intended to include the conjunctive. The use of definite or indefinite articles is not intended to indicate cardinality. In particular, a reference to “the” object or “a” and “an” object is intended to denote also one of a possible plurality of such objects. Further, the conjunction “or” may be used to convey features that are simultaneously present, as one option, and mutually exclusive alternatives as another option. In other words, the conjunction “or” should be understood to include “and/or” as one option and “either/or” as another option.

German Publication No. DE 102010022639A1 discloses a grommet. The present application relates to the grommets and grommet assemblies disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,130,298, 8,530,761, and 8,022,304; U.S. Publication Nos. 2015/0236440, 2014/0190725, 2013/0140060, 2010/0307794. All of these documents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Any of these grommets or grommet assemblies may include strap towers 62, 64. Grommet 10 may include any features of the grommets or grommet assemblies disclosed in these documents.

Referring to FIG. 1, grommet 10 includes a body port 20, a first rigid tube 30, a flexible bellows 40, a second rigid tube 50, and a door port 60. Body port 20 is mounted to a body of a vehicle and extends through a body port aperture defined by the body. Door port 60 is mounted to a door of the vehicle (e.g., a driver door, a passenger door, a trunk) and extends through a door port aperture defined by the door. An electrical cable or a fluid tube (collectively referred to as a tube) extends through body port 20, first rigid tube 30, flexible bellows 40, second rigid tube 50, and door port 60. The tube begins inside of the body and ends inside the door. Without grommet 10, the tube would be exposed to ambient between the body and the door. With grommet 10, no portion of the tube is externally visible. Grommet 10 may include a rubber. Grommet 10 may be made exclusively from a rubber.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, body port 20 includes at least one expanding clip 21, walls 22, and a plurality of oval edges. Clip 21 fits through a small aperture defined in the vehicle body. In order to fit through the small aperture, clip 21 is compressed such that the two opposing protrusions (not labeled) are squeezed together. After clip 21 is inserted into the small aperture, clip 21 expands, thus securing body port 20 with respect to the vehicle body. Walls 22 extend through the body port aperture defined in the body. One of the oval edges lies flush against an outer panel of the body defining the body port aperture. As such, at least a portion of body port 20 does not extend through the body port aperture.

First rigid tube 30 extends at a desired angle with respect to body port 20. Second rigid tube 50 extends at a desired angle with respect to door port 60. Bellows 40 is disposed in between first and second rigid tubes 30, 50.

Door port 60 includes an oval shaped body 61, a pair of opposing strap towers 62, 64, and a conduit 63. With reference to FIG. 5, body 61 includes an annular lip 61 a and a plurality of ridges 61 b. A plurality of inner notches 61 c are defined between each ridge 61 b and annular lip 61 a. An annular and oval shaped projection of the door fits inside the plurality of inner notches 61 c. Ridges 61 b and annular lip 61 a compressively bear on the annular and oval shaped projection to retain door port 60 with respect to the door. Recesses 61 e are defined between consecutive ribs 61 d, which bear on door panel 92 (see FIG. 9).

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, strap towers 62, 64 are tapered thus resembling slices of a cake. More specifically, strap towers 62, 64 include a narrow end facing conduit 63 and a wide end facing oval shaped body 61. Strap towers 62, 64 protrude from door port 60 parallel with a central axis of oval shaped body 61 and a central axis of conduit 63, when in an upright position as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

Strap towers 62, 64 define strap apertures 62 a, 62 b, 64 a, 64 b for receiving one or more cable straps. Strap apertures 62 a, 62 b, 64 a, 64 b extend through a full width of strap towers 62, 64. Conduit 63 is tapered. As shown in FIG. 4, conduit 63 includes a pair of outwardly projecting lips 63 a, 63 b. According to some embodiments, conduit 63 is rigid and non-flexible. Strap apertures 62 a, 64 a are disposed equal distances from oval shaped body as are strap apertures 62 b, 64 b. Strap apertures 62 a, 62 b extend in a parallel direction. Strap apertures 64 a, 64 b extend in a parallel direction. Strap apertures 62 a, 62 b, 64 a, 64 b extend in a parallel direction. Door port 60 may include strap towers disposed at any location with respect to conduit 63. One embodiment includes four strap towers disposed at equal 90 degree intervals about conduit 63.

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an application of grommet 10 without the use of strap towers 62, 64. Walls 22 are omitted. The vehicle body includes a body panel 91 defining body port aperture 91 a. The vehicle body defines an interior body cavity 95. The door includes a door panel 92 defining door port aperture 92 a. The door defines an interior door cavity 96. Tube 93 extends from interior body cavity 95, through grommet 10, and into door cavity 96. Due rotation of the door, door panel 92 moves with respect to body panel 91. As such, bellows 40 flexes. Grommet 10 is exposed to ambient 97 (i.e., visible to a user when the door is open) between body panel 91 and door panel 92.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates an application of grommet 10 with the user of strap towers 62, 64. A left tube 93 a exits conduit 63. A left strap 101 (e.g., a zip tie) extends through strap apertures 62 a, 62 b of left strap tower 62, thus retaining left tube 93 a. A right tube 93 b exits conduit 63. A right strap 103 extends through strap apertures 64 a, 64 b of right tower strap 64, thus retaining right tube 93 b. As shown in FIG. 10, strap towers 62, 64 enable left tube 93 a and right tube 93 b to extend, within door cavity 96 at right angles with respect to a central axis of conduit 63 and a central axis of oval shaped body 61.

If conduit 63 is sufficiently long and flexible, one of the straps 101, 103 can be used to retain conduit 63 at a right angle with respect to the central axis of conduit 63 and the central axis of oval shaped body 61. The central axis lies normal to the planes in which the ovals of oval shaped body 61 are defined. Thus, conduit 63 may be sized to extend past both strap towers 62, 64. Conduit 63 may thus be flexible. Conduit 63 may be a bellows. Conduit 63 may be rigid.

As shown schematically in FIG. 11, right strap 103 binds tube 93 b to one lateral side of right strap tower 64. Right tube 93 b is thus compressed between the one lateral side of right strap tower 64 and right strap 103. As shown in FIG. 10, right strap 103 is wound through both of apertures 64 a, 64 b to position at least a portion of right tube 93 b between apertures 64 a, 64 b.

FIGS. 12 to 14 illustrate another embodiment of door port 60. Here, left strap tower 62 extends in the opposite direction as right strap tower 64. Both towers define a single strap aperture to accommodate straps 101, 103. It should be appreciated, however, that strap towers 62, 64 may define any number of strap apertures (e.g., each strap tower 62, 64 may define at least two strap apertures). Door port 60 of FIGS. 12 to 14 may represent a complete grommet 10. Alternatively, door port 60 may be connected to some or all of the components shown in FIG. 1. Conduit 63 may be flexible. One or both sides of conduit 63 may be rigid.

FIG. 15 illustrates a further embodiment of grommet 10. Door port 60 includes a pull tab 1501. As shown, no first rigid tube 30 is attached to body port 20 (although a first rigid tube 30 may be present). Body port 20 includes a plurality of radially extending alignment projections 1502. Strap or zip tie 101 secures tube 93 to strap tower 62. Strap or zip tie 101 extends through both strap apertures of strap tower 62 such that at least a portion of tube 93 is disposed directly between the two strap apertures.

Although ports 20 and 60 were respectively described as being attached to body panel 91 and door panel 92, in practice, they may be reversed such that port 60 attaches to body panel 91 and port 20 attaches to door panel 92. Port 20 may include any of the above-discussed features of port 60.

Disclosed is a grommet for protecting a tube, the grommet comprising a first port, a second port, and a flexible bellows disposed therebetween. The first port defines a central axis and comprises: a conduit leading to the bellows, a first strap tower defining at least one first strap aperture.

The grommet may include some or all of the following features: The first strap tower extends parallel to the central axis of the first port. The first strap tower defines at least two first strap apertures. The at least two first strap apertures are holes extending through an entire width of the strap tower. The first strap tower is tapered, with a narrow end facing toward the conduit and a wide end facing away from the conduit. the first port comprises an annular lip disposed about a periphery of the first port. The first strap tower is disposed closer to the conduit than the annular lip. The annular lip at least partially defines at least one outer notch, the at least one outer notch being open.

The at least one outer notch is open on at least three sides. The first port comprises a second strap tower defining at least one second strap aperture. The conduit is disposed between the first and second strap towers. The second strap tower defines at least two second strap apertures. The first strap tower extends in a first direction and the second strap tower extends in a second opposite direction. The conduit is flexible. A central axis of the conduit is configured to extend parallel to the central axis of the first port. The second port comprises two strap towers, each defining two strap apertures.

Disclosed is a protected tube assembly comprising: any of the grommets discussed in this application, a tube extending out of the conduit, a first strap wrapped around the tube and extending through the at least one first strap aperture, the first strap securing the tube to the first strap tower.

The disclosed tube assembly may include some or all of the following features: The tube extends through the first port generally collinear with the central axis of the first port. The tube extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the central axis of the first port adjacent to the first strap tower. The first strap and the first strap tower apply a bending force to the tube, thus retaining the tube in a bent position. The first strap tower comprises at least two first strap apertures. The first strap occupies both of the first strap apertures. central axes of the two first strap apertures are parallel. The first strap retains the tube in contact with the first strap tower. The tube contacts the first strap tower at a position between the two first strap apertures. The first strap tower is tapered. The first strap tower extends parallel to the central axis of the first port. Each of the two first strap apertures are tunnels with two open ends. The first strap is a zip tie. The first strap is tight against the tube and against the first strap tower to keep the first tube static with respect to the first strap tower.

Disclosed is a vehicle comprising: any of the protected tube assemblies disclosed in this patent application; a motor assembly comprising a motor housing and a motor, the motor being configured to drive wheels of the vehicle; a body panel, the body panel being immobile with respect to the motor housing, the body panel defining a body port aperture; a door comprising a door panel, the door being moveable with respect to the body panel and the motor housing, the door defining a door port aperture; the first port being attached to the door panel and at least partially extending through the door port aperture; the second port being attached to the body panel and at least partially extending through the body port aperture.

Disclosed is a grommet for protecting a tube, the grommet comprising: a first port, a second port, and a flexible bellows disposed therebetween; the first port defining a central axis and comprising: a conduit leading to the bellows; a first strap tower defining at least one first strap aperture.

The grommet may include some or all of the following features: The conduit is flexible. A first portion of the conduit extends parallel with the central axis of the first port and a second portion of the conduit extends perpendicular with the central axis of the first port. The conduit is secured to the first strap tower. A first strap extends through the first strap aperture and binds the conduit to the first strap tower. The first strap tower defines at least two first strap apertures. The first strap extends through both of the first strap apertures and extends about a portion of the conduit. The first strap is a zip tie.

Disclosed is a tube grommet assembly comprising: any grommet disclosed herein a flexible tube extending therethrough, the flexible tube either being an electrical cable or a fluid line. 

I claim:
 1. A protected tube assembly comprising: (a) a grommet comprising: a first port; a second port; and a flexible bellows disposed therebetween, the first port including a central axis and comprising: a conduit leading to the flexible bellows; and a first strap tower including a first strap aperture; (b) a tube extending out of the conduit; and (c) a first strap wrapped around the tube and extending through the first strap aperture, the first strap securing the tube to the first strap tower, wherein the tube extends through the first port generally collinear with the central axis of the first port, wherein the first strap and the first strap tower apply a bending force to the tube, thus retaining the tube in a bent position.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second strap aperture, wherein the first strap occupies both the first strap aperture and the second strap aperture.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first strap retains the tube in contact with the first strap tower.
 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the tube contacts the first strap tower at a position between the first strap aperture and a second strap aperture.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the first strap tower is tapered.
 6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the first strap tower extends parallel to the central axis of the first port.
 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein first strap aperture and the second strap aperture are tunnels with two open ends.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the first strap is tight against the tube and against the first strap tower to keep the tube static with respect to the first strap tower. 